New dad Daniel Wu wants to be a hands-on parent for baby girl Raven

New dad Daniel Wu wants to be a hands-on parent for baby girl Raven

As producer and leading man of new action flick Control, California-born Hong Kong-based actor Daniel Wu is used to having matters on set under his control.

But in real life, it is his six-month-old daughter Raven who has the handsome, brooding star wrapped around her little finger.

"Yes, I'm totally under her control," said the 39-year-old over the phone from Hong Kong, where he had just wrapped up a promotional tour for the movie.

"She keeps me on my toes, be it when she wants to sleep, or when she wants to eat. I believe in being hands-on, as it really connects you with your kid. I change her diapers and do all the night feeds," he said.

The first-time dad, whose wife is Hong Kong-based American model-host Lisa Selesner (more commonly known as Lisa S), spoke to reporters Thursday afternoon to promote Control, which opens here next Thursday.

Rated NC16, the futuristic thriller, which also stars Chinese actress Yao Chen and Taiwanese actor Leon Dai, features Wu as an insurance salesman whose life is turned upside down when he starts getting calls from an anonymous powerful figure, ordering him to do bad things.

While Wu might sound like a pro with his daddy duties, he is still petrified at one challenging task.

"Well, I try not to do too much of the bathing, as it's scary. I'm worried that Raven might slip and fall. So usually, I'll leave that to my wife," he said.

Wu confirmed previous news reports that Control will be his last project, at least for the next seven months.

"I used to put work first, but my priorities have definitely changed," he said.

"Right now, Raven's development and growth is different every day. This is precious time...

"You have to give back something to gain something."

When it comes to Raven, he admitted to being one who "thinks very far".

"I'm already thinking how (I will react) to the first teenage boy who comes knocking on our door for my daughter, you know, stuff like that," said Wu.

Is it because he himself went through a teenage phase when raging hormones and hitting on girls was de rigueur?

DADDY WOES

Wu deflected the question and replied that he was "coming from a father's perspective".

"I probably wouldn't be having all these thoughts if I had a son. When boys get into trouble, you don't really care, but when your baby girl does, you'd be heartbroken."

He and Selesner, 38, who got married in 2010, have been considering relocating to the US, primarily because most of their close family members are there.

"Also, I have a problem with Hong Kong's education system. There is just too much competition and pressure..." he said.

"As a kid, I was forced to learn piano and violin and I hated it. I don't want Raven to go through that..."

So are the couple ready for baby No. 2? "At this point, no. But ultimately, we'd love to have two kids," he said.


Get The New Paper for more stories.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.